Mauvisseau and colleagues, 2019

Mauvisseau Q, Tönges S, Andriantsoa R, Lyko F, Sweet M. 2019. Early detection of an emerging invasive species: eDNA monitoring of a parthenogenetic crayfish in freshwater systems. Management of Biological Invasions 10(3): 449–460. https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.3.04

Abstract

Procambarus virginalis, also known as the Marmorkrebs is a highly invasive crayfish species characterized by parthenogenetic reproduction. As conservation management plans rely on the accuracy of the presence and distribution information of invasive species, a reliable method is needed for detecting such species in aquatic systems. We developed and validated a qPCR-based assay for monitoring P. virginalis at low abundance, by detecting their eDNA traces left in freshwater systems. We were able to implement this new assay in-situ at two separate lakes in Germany, where the crayfish were known to be present. Furthermore, we did not detect the pathogenic fungus Aphanomyces astaci in the locations where the Marmorkrebs were detected. We conclude that the use of eDNA is therefore a reliable tool for the early detection of this “perfect invader”.

Keywords: eDNA detection • lakes • Marmorkrebs • crayfish plague • qPCR

Forum Flusskrebse theme issue

Forum Flusskrebse is a German-language society for the study of crayfish. They have a regular periodical (Google Translate calls it a “newspaper”). Issue #30 has three articles on Marmorkrebs.

• Genetically equal and yet different: advantages and benefits of marble crayfish for research
Genetisch gleich und doch verschieden: Vorteile und Nutzen des Marmorkrebses für die Forschung


• The zoo trade as an entry path for invasive species: what we can learn from marble crayfish
Der Zoohandel als Einschleppungspfad für invasive Arten: Was wir vom Marmorkrebs lernen können

• Environment-induced plasticity of a parthenogenetic crayfish: Population ecology of the marble crayfish Procambarus virginalis in southwestern Germany
Umweltinduzierte Plastizität eines parthenogenetischen Flusskrebses: Populationsökologie des Marmorkrebses Procambarus virginalis in Südwestdeutschland

The English translations are courtesy of Google Translate and may not be entirely accurate, but I hope they give a passable idea of what the work is about.

This periodical is available in the society’s shop for 10€.

Hat tip to Günter Vogt.

External links

Forum flusskrebse